Matthew 8

Matthew starts to explore the actual work of Jesus Christ. He gives us four different examples of Christ’s power.

Christ’s Power Over Diseases

Leprosy (v1-4)

The leper started by kneeling before Him and calling Him “Lord”. The leper was able to recognize Jesus’ authority and power. He had the faith to trust that Jesus could do what He said He could do. As soon as Jesus tells the leper that he is clean, it is done. Immediately the leprosy was cleansed. That had to be amazing to see happen!

Then Jesus tells the leper not to talk about what just happened. Could you imagine anything more difficult? But Jesus told him to go to the priest and to offer the gift that Moses commanded as proof. What in the world does that mean? Leviticus 14:1-32 details the steps that a leper needed to go through to cleanse themselves. The leper was to be examined by a priest before he was pronounced clean. Jesus didn’t want the scribes, the Pharisees, the legalistic people of the times to come back and dismiss the miracle as something that had happened not as a result of Jesus’ power and work but from following the rituals laid out by Moses to be cleansed.

Paralysis (v5-13)

I love the story of this Centurion. A centurion was Roman soldier — a Gentile who was respected by the Jews as he apparently had helped them in the Capernaum area with a synagogue and such. However, this Gentile had faith in the power of Jesus to heal his servant. In fact, he had so much faith that he knew Jesus didn’t even have to be present with this servant to heal him. Jesus’ comment to those following him had to have doubled them over: “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” I shouldn’t need to remind you that those following Him were mostly people from Israel. That had to hurt. Deeply. In light of the Centurion’s faith, Jesus immediately healed the servant where he was.

Fever (v14-15)

Jesus touches Peter’s mother-in-law and she is immediately healed. In fact, she is healed to the point where she immediately rose and “began to serve him”. It would have been impressive enough that He simply took the fever away but so that no one could question His power, He made it such that she got out of bed and was helping those at the house. I don’t know about everyone else but after I am done laying down sick with a fever, it takes me at least a day to get to the point where I want to do anything more than brush my teeth. Jesus’ power as at work!!

Christ’s Power Over Demons (v16-17, 28-34)

In verses 16 and 17, people were bringing “many” who were oppressed by demons and “with a word”, He cast them out. I’ve seen a few movies where it sure seems like it took more than a word from a few people! Jesus’ power was at work!

Later, in verses 28-34, Matthew tells us about two demon-possessed men who were so strong that no one could pass. When they see Jesus, they cry out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” You have to love the fact that these possessed men were able to recognize Jesus Christ for who He was while those who knew the scriptures backwards and forwards couldn’t recognize Him from a heretic. Once again, Jesus easily casts the demons out… this time into a herd of pigs. Now, there is much discussion around this bit of scripture. The demons begged Jesus to cast them out into the pigs instead of simply casting them out. I am not sure what the difference would have been for them but they clearly did not want to simply be cast out, as Jesus has done multiple other times. It might have been an interesting point to include as the Jews would have appreciated the fact that Jesus cast these demons out into an unclean animal and lets them die. The other interesting fact is that the herd numbers roughly 2,000 (Mark 5:13) and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank and into the sea. Two evil spirits somehow entered 2,000 pigs and then killed themselves. You can’t make this stuff up, folks… I’m just saying. So when the town's folk all saw this happened, instead of recognizing Jesus’ power, they were afraid. Uhhhh… what?!? The evil spirits just called him the Son of God and they obeyed Him. You would think that would help them to recognize Him for who He was and want to do whatever He instructed. Instead, they begged Him to leave.

Christ’s Power Over Men (v18-22)

A scribe comes up and tells Jesus that he will follow Him wherever He goes. Jesus knew this scribes heart and that he most likely desired the important place next to Jesus. However, Jesus points out that lowly animals (such as foxes, birds, etc.) have homes while He has done.

Another disciple (follower of Christ) comes up and wants to go and bury his father. The language is such that the disciple is making it clear that his father is not yet dead but he wants to go back and be with him, bury him and then join Jesus. Once again, Jesus recognizes this disciple's heart (most likely motivated by receiving the inheritance) and tells him to leave the dead (physically dead) to bury the dead.

Christ’s Power Over Nature (v23-27)

While in a boat on the sea with His disciples, a storm arose. The boat was being tossed about because of the waves and the disciples were scared that they were dying. Where was Jesus? Sleeping. Classic. He rebukes His disciples, “why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” He then stops the winds, the sea and everything is calm. They were amazed! They even marveled. Uhmm…. these were the followers of Christ? Were they really surprised by anything He did at this point? It is so easy to read these miracles and physical representations of Jesus’s power and wonder how in the world these people could ever possibly miss the fact that Jesus was who He said He was!

However, we have all of this knowledge, this evidence, the thousands and thousands of commentaries and analysis of the Scripture… yet we don’t recognize the power of Jesus in our own lives. We forget to trust in His ability to work powerfully in our lives today. We get so busy living our lives that we can’t spend 15 minutes a day to read about His power at work. We can’t talk to our best friend or our next-door neighbor about Jesus Christ and what He has done for our lives.

Prayer

Jesus, your power is unquestionable. Your power is unbelievable. Your power is irresistible. Lord, you have power over disease, over men, over nature and over demons. There is nothing outside of your power. Kings, leaders, even Satan… they have nothing on you. They can’t even come close. The best that they can hope for is that You will have mercy on them and spare them. Lord, let Your power work through me. Through the Spirit, change me so that I would be a physical and spiritual representation of Your power in today’s world. Father, help me to have the faith of the Centurion. Help me have the faith of the leper. Thank you, Father, for these examples of Your power in this world. I thank you for Jesus Christ being the Lord and Savior of my life. Draw me closer to You on a daily basis.

I pray this in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

  JASON WORTHEN | Elder

 Jason and Larissa were part of the founding members of Hutto Bible Church in 2007. Previously, they attended Hill County Bible Church Pflugerville for nearly six years. They have been married for 16 years and have three daughters: Elisabeth, Sarah and Rebekah. Jason is employed by General Motors and Larissa is a stay-at-home mom who works three times as hard. Jason put his trust in Christ in 2003 when he was attending Bible Study Fellowship in Austin. Both Jason and Larissa have served in Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry and in an elder capacity.